International Relations and National Security Studies at Wilkes University

Based on comparable programs in Pennsylvania, an International Relations degree from Wilkes appears to position students better than the national picture for this field. The estimated first-year earnings of $49,032 match the state median and exceed the national median by nearly $12,000—a meaningful difference in a field where many graduates struggle to break $40,000 initially. The estimated debt load of about $20,000 is manageable, yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 that suggests students could theoretically pay off their loans in under six months of gross income.

The caveat is that these figures reflect six similar programs across Pennsylvania, not Wilkes specifically, so they represent what's typical rather than what's guaranteed. What we do know is that Pennsylvania's International Relations programs vary dramatically—from Bucknell's $77,000 to Lehigh's $36,000—and Wilkes sits somewhere in that middle range based on its peer institutions. At a school with a 91% admission rate and relatively accessible price point (evidenced by the moderate debt estimate), this program appears positioned for students seeking solid public sector or policy-adjacent careers without the premium price tag of more selective Pennsylvania schools.

For parents, the key question is whether your child's career goals align with these mid-$40,000 starting points. If they're targeting federal intelligence work, nonprofits, or local government—fields where International Relations grads commonly land—these numbers work. If they're expecting consulting or diplomatic fast-tracks, those typically require graduate credentials anyway, making the undergraduate debt picture the more important factor to evaluate.